“I love you so much, Amelia. I think you’re right, I think if Chloe can forgive him and move on, then I should too,” he says, then puts his hands on either side of my face and kisses me.
“Let’s go inside. I’d like to bake some of my chocolate chip pudding cookies for dinner tonight,” I say, put my hands on his then bring them to my lips and kiss the inside of his palm.
Kyle helps me bake the cookies, we package them up and head to my parent’s house for dinner. All of my brothers and sisters are there, along with baby Abbey and Ava even brought Chloe. I take Abbey from Willow and hold her close. Just think, I could have something this precious growing inside me. I see Chloe sitting off to the side, I walk over to her and hand her Abbey, then sit next to her.
“I’m sorry about Kyle at lunch today. I talked to him about it. He’s really just looking out for you. I was going to call you earlier, but I got side tracked making cookies. I think he thinks it’s a little too fast for you to be dating someone after everything you’ve been through. He just wants to make sure that you’re seeing someone who is understanding and is kind, he doesn’t want to see you get hurt. He only wants the best for you. I hope you know that,” I say, as she bounces a giggling Abbey on her knee.
“I know he does. I’m not ready to tell anyone about who I’m seeing just yet. I want you to know though, he’s a really good man. He knows all about what happened and he’s been wonderful to me. As far as being too soon, well I think you’ll all understand and just have to be patient with me.”
“Good, that’s all I need to know and that’s all Kyle needs to know too. As far as being patient, I’m not a patient person, it’s going to kill me until I know, so don’t make it too long. OK? Now give me back that baby.”
I take Abbey and smile at Chloe. I really do hope, for her sake, that this person is everything she says.
I look around for Kyle and don’t see him anywhere. Actually, I don’t see any of the men in my life anywhere.
“Have you seen Kyle?” I ask Chloe.
“I saw him a little while ago helping your mom in the kitchen, maybe he’s still in there,” she replies.
“Come on, Abbey, let’s go find Kyle,” I say playfully to her and find my mom, Ava and Willow in the kitchen, but no Kyle.
“Where is everyone?” I ask them.
“I don’t know, dear, but dinner is almost ready, can you go round everyone up and tell them dinner is ready?” Mom tells me, as she pulls the lasagna out of the oven.
I go and search for the guys and tell Chloe on the way that dinner is ready. The door to my Dad’s study is closed, I knock gently and open the door. Peeking inside I see all the men are standing around in a huddle drinking what looks like whisky.
“Dinner’s ready, boys.”
Asher walks over and takes Abbey, kisses me on the cheek and heads to the dining room. Kyle places his hand on the small of my back and guides me from the room. I look over my shoulder at my dad and he winks at me and my brothers have goofy grins on their face. Whisky does strange things to those boys, I tell you.
Dinner was amazing, spending time with my family always makes me feel warm and gooey inside. I’m so excited to go back to work tomorrow too.
Kyle
Amelia and I get ready for bed and I can’t keep the silly grin off my face. If I can’t get this under control, I’ll spoil the surprise. Little does Amelia know, but I not only asked her father for her hand in marriage, but I asked her brothers too. Getting a yes from her brothers was easy. Her father, on the other hand, was a little more difficult. He thought that we should maybe wait a little while, but in the end I convinced him that my love for Amelia wouldn’t change no matter how long we waited. I told him we were moving in together and I wanted to make an honest woman out of her. He wasn’t happy about us living together before marriage either, but I reminded him that she’s still recovering and I feel better about having her monitored by a professional. All those reasons are true too, but they helped me win him over.
I saw Amelia’s hesitation when she agreed to move in with me. I’m pretty sure she’d rather be married first. I still do want to keep an eye on her, but she’s doing great both emotionally and physically. She goes to her psychiatrist once a week and her wounds have healed completely.
I don’t want a long engagement either. I’ve never been more sure of anything in my life, Amelia Wellington is the woman meant to be my wife. I have the perfect day all planned out too. My job this week is to find that perfect engagement ring and I know the perfect person to ask to help me.
Amelia stands in the doorway wearing matching black lace panties and bra, with a new pair of black stilettos. The woman knows the way to my heart. She walks seductively to the bed, like a cat on the prowl, and crawls her way up the bed. She starts at my navel and kisses her way up my chest. I run my hands up her back and in her hair. The way she kisses me is like nothing else I’ve ever experienced. She pours every emotion and feeling into every kiss. It’s slow and sensual. She rocks her fine ass on my hips. I flip us over and kiss that sweet spot just under her ear.
“Kyle,” she whispers.
I make my way down and remove her panties. I know what my woman needs and I crave it. She moans and pants, as I love her with my mouth. I insert one finger, then two. Slowly I stroke her in and out while I hit that sweet spot with my tongue that sends her flying. She starts to breathe heavy and I know she’s close. Her legs start to spasm and she comes, digging her nails in my biceps.
I sit on my haunches and pull her into my lap. She straddles me placing her feet on either side of me. I reach between us and enter her hard. She uses her leg muscles and lifts herself up and down. She feels so damn good. I hold her tight to my chest, as she moves up and down. Her fingers are in my hair and I kiss her breasts, taking a nipple between my teeth. I put my hands under her ass and help her move up and down. She clenches her muscles around me and it sends me over the edge.
I seat her firmly in my lap, as I pulse inside her. She finds my lips and kisses me sweetly. I hold her tight and scoot off the bed, still inside her. I carry her to the bathroom and set her down gently. We get cleaned up, then I take her hand and walk back to bed.
“Don’t make any plans for this weekend, I have a surprise planned,” I tell her, as I curl up to her side and kiss her shoulder.
“You do?” she asks and cranes her neck back to look at me.
“I do. I have the weekend off. Pack warm. That’s all I’m going to tell you.”
“A surprise, I love surprises. Now I’m not going to be able to go to sleep,” she says and sticks out her bottom lip in a mock pout.
“You better go to sleep. You need to be bright eyed and bushy tailed, you have work in the morning.” She yawns as I say it. I run my fingers through her hair several times and she’s fast asleep. I smile and kiss the side of her head. “Goodnight, honey.”
The next morning I wake up early, start a pot of coffee, and head back upstairs to wake up Amelia. She’s not in bed, but I hear the shower running. I quietly open the door and set her coffee on the counter.
I just can’t pass up the opportunity to take a shower with her. Soapy water is sliding off her sexy curves. She smiles, then steps aside for me to join her. She runs her slick hands up my chest and brings her mouth to mine.
I back her up and sit her on the tiled seat that I’m so glad I put in when I remodeled the bathroom. I kneel on the floor in front of her and hitch both her legs over my shoulders. She leans back and closes her eyes. The steam from the shower adds to the sensual feeling. It doesn’t take her long and she screams my name.
I lift her up and press her against the tile wall. She raises one leg around my hip, then reaches between us and grabs my shaft. She runs her slick hands up and down my length. On a downward stroke, she guides me in and I lift her other leg up and on my hip. I press her hard against the wall, as she locks her feet behind me. She puts her head back and I kiss her throat. I hold one hand above her head and mas
sage her breast with the other. She clenches her insides around me and it sends me over the edge. God, it gets me every time.
“Amelia, fuck, I’m coming,” I say and hold her firm, rooted as far as I can go.
She’s panting hard, she opens her eye’s and has the sweetest smile on her face. I wrap my arms around her and back her into the hot showering water. We kiss for several minutes before I let her down. I grab her gently under her chin and tilt it upward, so she’s looking into my eyes.
“I love you,” I tell her simply, then kiss her one last time.
We both finish in the shower and I wrap her in a towel. She eyes the coffee cup and raises her eyebrows.
“You know the way to a girl’s heart,” she says reaching for the cup, then takes a drink.
“Yeah, hot shower sex, right?” I tease.
“That’s exactly what I meant.”
We both get ready for work and I just hope she’s not going back too early. I know she’s going stir crazy sitting at home, but she really should take off one more week. Amelia is strong willed and I know there’s no talking her out of it.
I can’t help but chuckle at what the two of us look like. We walk out the front door at the same time, with a kiss we each get into our cars and go our separate ways to work. We look like the traditional married couple, comfortable in an everyday morning routine.
When I get to the hospital, I order an arrangement of orange roses to be delivered to Amelia’s office. While I’m thinking about it, I dig my cell out of my pocket and call Willow.
“Hello,” she answers on the second ring.
“Willow, hi. It’s Kyle. I want to ask a favor. I need you to keep it a secret from Amelia though.”
“I’m not sure I can do that, Kyle. What’s this about?” She covers the phone with her hand, but I can still hear what she’s saying, “No, it’s Kyle. Asher, stop being nosy. Mind your own business. No, I don’t know what he wants, if you stop bugging me I’ll find out.” She uncovers the phone and says, “Sorry, Kyle what were you saying?”
“I’m pretty sure you’ll be able to keep this secret. I’m going to ask Amelia to marry me this Saturday and . . .” all I hear next is Willow screaming.
She drops the phone and next I hear Asher on the line.
“I guess you told her you’re going to ask Amelia to marry you,” Asher says, while Willow is still screaming in the background.
“I did, I was hoping I could take Willow with me to go ring shopping. I’d like to do it today if she can,” I tell him.
Willow finally stopped screaming and Asher puts her back on the phone.
“Are you done screaming now?” I ask her.
“Yes, sorry. Oh my God, I’m so excited for you both,” she says.
“Wait. What Asher? He wants me to go ring shopping. Are you kidding me, I’d love to? I’m only working a half a day today, so today will work out just fine,” she tells me.
“Wait a minute. You already knew Kyle was going to propose to Amelia?” she asks Asher. “I’ll deal with you later,” she tells him.
We make plans to meet after lunch. Amelia will have no clue.
Chapter 14
Amelia
I get to work, followed by Willow shortly after. It took a few hours to get back in the swing of things, but now it’s as if I never left. Willow is only working a half day today. She said Abbey has a doctor appointment for a well- baby check.
I’ve been ordered by Asher to be in his office for lunch. Ugh, bossy men. I’m surrounded by them. Just before lunch a delivery man delivers a beautiful arrangement of orange roses. Soon my whole office smells wonderful. Willow shuts down for the day, then heads up to Asher’s floor to get Abbey and leave for the day. I go with her to give my niece a quick kiss, and then make my way to Asher’s office.
I say hello to Charlotte and knock on his door. Willow, Abbey and I walk into his office and just the sight of his wife and child instantly lights up Asher’s face. It’s funny I never thought that was possible for me, but now I know exactly how he feels.
Willow kisses Asher and gives a little shriek, startling me. Asher swats her in the ass and tells her she better go, or she’ll be late. She kisses me on the cheek and waves her hands in front of her like she’s trying to fly away. Lord have mercy, people are strange today.
Asher has lunch delivered and I sit Indian style in his big, overstuffed chair across from him. Of course he’s concerned I’m doing too much and he tries to insist that I only work half days.
“Asher, I’m fine. Please stop treating me differently. I need to be back at work. I need to have my life back. What happened was terrible, but I need to move on.”
I need to get the conversation away from me. I rack my brain trying to think of something to say. I know.
“Did you hear Chloe is dating someone?” I say, then hope she doesn’t kill me for spilling the beans, but I can’t think fast enough of something else to say.
“Really, do you know who? Anyone we know?” he asks and takes a bite of his sandwich.
“I don’t know who. She’s very tight-lipped about it. All I know is his name is Max.”
Asher puts down his sandwich and stares at me like I just grew another head.
“What? Do I have mustard on my face or something?” I ask, wiping at my face.
“No, it’s not that. Is that all she said, a guy named Max?” he asks strangely.
“Yep, that was it. She said he knows about her past and that he’s a good guy. Why, do you know who he is?” I ask, wondering how he could possibly know.
“I, uh, may know, but I’m not positive,” he mumbles.
“You do, who?” I ask excitedly.
“Excuse me, Mr. Wellington, sir your one o’clock appointment is here,” Charlotte says, as she buzzes in over Asher’s phone.
“Thank you, Charlotte, show them into the conference room. I’ll be there in just a few minutes,” he tells her.
“No way, you have to tell me. You can’t leave me in suspense.”
This is going to kill me to not know.
“Sorry Amelia, I need to go to this meeting. It was nice having lunch with you. Don’t work yourself too hard, I want you to leave early today too.”
Shit, my brother can be annoying. First a surprise weekend away with Kyle, now Asher might know Chloe’s mystery man. How will I ever fall asleep ever again? It didn’t look like Asher was all that excited about Max. I wonder what that was all about.
I get back to my office and the first thing I see are the beautiful orange roses on my desk. They bring an instant smile to my face. I work for a few more hours, then head home early.
Kyle will be at the hospital for a few more hours, so I decide to go to my apartment to pack up some of my things. Kyle’s been here several times and has brought quite a bit over, but there’s still plenty to do.
I put in my thirty-day notice, so I need to decide what I’m keeping and what we have two of and donate them. What I didn’t realize, is this is the first time I’ve been back here since I was kidnapped.
The instant I step foot in front of my apartment door, I realize it’s a huge mistake to come here by myself. I’ve been in counseling for a while now and we’ve talked about this and I was warned that it would be difficult, but I’m taken aback at the fear radiating in my heart.
This is stupid, the man is dead and he can’t hurt me anymore. I put the key in the door and push it open. There are packed and unpacked boxes all over the apartment. My senses are on high alert and I feel like my ears are ten times bigger than they really are.
I walk into the kitchen and I don’t really know what I expected, but there’s no blood on the counters or floor, someone must have cleaned it all up. It’s stupid to think that it would all still be here. Then it happens, just like a movie playing in my head, I see it all replaying. The way he grabbed me and held me sends ice-cold terror through my veins. I run my finger on the counter where he held me down and stuck me with the needle.
; Several things are missing from the counter that were broken in the struggle. I don’t know how long I stand here paralyzed with fear, but the next thing I know a hand on my shoulder. I scream bloody murder and cower in a fetal position on the floor in the corner of the cupboards.
“Amelia, it’s me. Oh my God, come here, you’re safe. I’m so sorry I didn’t mean to scare you.”
It’s Kyle and he’s on the floor, on his knees. He scoops me up and sits me in his lap. I’m shaking so badly and the tears are streaming uncontrollably down my face. Kyle has a tight hold on me and he’s rocking me back and forth like a baby.
“Amelia, I’m so sorry, I was just stopping by to pick up a few boxes before heading home. I called your name, but I guess you didn’t hear me. Shh, it’s OK, honey. I’ve got you. You’re OK.” He says, pulling away slightly to look at my face.
“Honey, please stop looking at me like that. I’m so sorry; I didn’t mean to scare you. God I would do anything to take that fear out of your eyes. I’ve got you, you’re OK, honey.”
I don’t know how long I sat in his lap on the floor, but he held me tight and let me cry until I had no more tears left.
I’m so exhausted now from crying so hard, the next thing I know Kyle lifts me up and carries me to his car. He reaches in and buckles me in, then kisses me on the cheek. I must fall asleep, because the next thing I know we’re in the driveway and he’s opening my door again. He lifts me out and carries me all the way into the house and up to bed.
He sits me on the bed and takes off my shoes one at a time. He pulls back the covers and lays me down. He curls up behind me and holds on tight. It has to be early in the evening and neither of us has eaten dinner, but Kyle never leaves my side. I feel him moving around digging in his pants pocket. He pulls out his cell phone and calls Willow and Asher.
“Hi Willow, it’s Kyle. Look, I need you guys to come over to my house. I stopped by Amelia’s apartment to pick up boxes and Amelia was there. I scared the shit out of her by accident. She was really upset and she completely broke down. I think I need some help,” he whispers into the phone.
Running Into Love - The Complete Box Set Page 30